Assisted Suicide Paper
February 26, 2004
Abstract
The need to have an understanding of the moral, legal and ethical issues facing clinicians dealing with end of life issues. Those who treat patients approaching the end of life often face moral, ethical, and legal issues involving shared decision-making, futility, the right to refuse medical treatment, euthanasia, and physician-assisted suicide. This paper will address the following; An overview of the topic, the Pros and Cons., Existing states laws, Dr. Kevorkian's role along with patient autonomy, Sanctity of life- pain and suffering, and Doctor-patient relationship, and potential abuse.
Assisted Suicide Paper
The principal problem involves the appropriate use of technology at the end of life. While developments in technology have enhanced our ability to prolong life, issues have also arisen regarding the resulting quality of life, the sometimes-marginal benefits to our patients, and the burdens that this technology imposes on patients, families, and society.
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English: Dr. Jack Kevorkian, best known for his ad...Legal and ethical issues continue to confront patients, courts, and physicians. A better understanding of these issues and an awareness of the availability of effective palliative care will help physicians, patients, and families adequately address the end-of-life issues that are an intrinsic part of medical care (Leone, 1999).
Introduction
Medicine's technical advances of the past few decades have cast a shadow over its long-held ethic of compassionate care. The main problem has been the appropriate use of technology at the end of life. Should it be used on everyone, regardless of the chance of a successful outcome or the burdens it imposes? If not, what ethical parameters guide the use and non-use of medical interventions? These questions are most sharp at the end of life because the burdens of intervention are often high, the benefits are marginal, and quality of life is markedly diminished.
This course reviews the ethical...